I/ EXCHANGE A FOREIGN DRIVER’S LICENSE FOR A
FRENCH DRIVER’S LICENSE : THE BEGINNING

Exchange of Driver’s Licenses issued by states outside
the European Union or the European Economic Area.
Exchange a Driver’s License issued by foreign countries

Under certain circumstances, exchanging a foreign
driver's license for the French license of equivalent class is still
possible.

In fact, under current legislation, the conditions
established for recognition and exchange of driver’s licenses issued by
states outside the Union, every holder of a driver's license from an
"African" state (or another state), must request an exchange of this
title for the French license within one year following the acquisition
of French residency, the date of acquisition being the date when the
first residence permit was established and effective.

Jurisprudence also specifies that the exchange of a
driver's license can still be processed on a later date in some
residual cases.

For an asylum applicant, the one year foreign driver’s
license recognition and exchange period, can be, under certain
conditions, more lenient.

In case of refusal, the application by the prefectural
authority governing the matter must be verified.
The exchange applies to hundreds of countries.

One exception resulting from the Geneva Convention of
July 28th, 1951, the warden may, in accordance with the legislation in
force, ask the authorities of the country concerned for a certificate
(of authenticity) attesting the legality of the title to exchange in
case the authenticity of such title is in doubt.

In the absence of a response and or a long waiting
period, generally resulting from the complexity of the administration –
which is by nature generally uninterested in the promptness of its
interventions in some countries – of the state that issued this title
during a period of six months, the prefect may, if he/she counts
correctly (to be verified), not accede to the exchange concerned. The
counting of the six-month waiting period for the certificate of
authenticity which could possibly be the subject of dispute and
verification as needed before the administrative judge

In fact, in a case reported here (CAA. 2007-VII), the
latter - the judge of the Administrative Court of Appeal of Versailles,
in this case – grants the request of the applicant and invites the
Prefecture (involved) to reconsider the received request for exchange
of the driver's license and issue the applicant requesting the license
exchange under investigation, a provisional authorization allowing the
applicant to resume driving .

A lawyer will advise you, and assist you, and defend you
before the government, the administrative court, the administrative
court of appeal, the magistrate’s court, the criminal court, etc..